Who Can be the Next FIFA Boss : Blatter's Possible Successors

The race to succeed Fifa president Sepp Blatter reached a crucial stage on Monday. 23:00 GMT to submit the relevant paperwork - together with letters of support from five football associations. World football's governing body has confirmed it will hold the election to determine Blatter's successor at a special congress on 26 February 2016. Let's takes a look at the seven candidates in the running :

Gianni Infantino

Age: 45

Nationality: Italian/Swiss

Years in game: 15 

Current Position: UEFA general secretary (since 2009)

Previous positions: Joined UEFA in 2000 as a lawyer and secretary general of the International Center for Sports Studies (CIES) at the University of Neuchâte.

What he says: "My manifesto will be based on the need for ‎reform and also for a FIFA that genuinely serves the interests of all 209 national associations, big or small, and that puts football and football development at the top of its agenda." 

Tokyo Sexwale

Age: 62

Nationality: South African

Years in game: Seven

Current Position: Mining tycoon

Previous Positions: Anti-apartheid campaigner (jailed for 13 years on Robben Island), former government minister, member of FIFA anti-discrimination task force, South Africa Apprentice presenter.

What he says: Speaking in 2011 following South Africa World Cup in 2010: "It was a great moment to see FIFA with us [at the World Cup] but also to see the world assemble in South Africa, the differentcolors of the rainbow of mankind and send the message across the world that FIFA is a unifying force." 

Prince Ali bin al-Hussein

Age: 39

Nationality: Jordanian

Years in game: 16

Current Position: President of Jordan Football Association and founder and president of the West Asian Football Federation.

Previous positions: Former FIFA vice-president.

What he says: "The world game deserves a world-class governing body - an international federation that is a service organization and a model of ethics, transparency and good governance."

Musa Bility

Age: 48

Nationality: Liberian

Years in game: Five

Current Position: President, Liberian FA

Previous Positions: He is also a businessman, running Srimex Oil and Gas Enterprise, the largest importer of petroleum in Liberia.

What he says: "We all agree that football is facing a difficult moment and it is in difficult moments that great leaders emerge."

Michel Platini

Age: 60

Nationality: French

Years in game: 43

Current Position : UEFA president (since 2007) and FIFA vice-president

Previous Positions: Played for Nancy, Saint-Etienne and Juventus. Captained France to victory in the 1984 European Championship. Coached France between 1988 and 1992. From 1992 to 1998, he was co-president of the FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee, and vice-president of the French Football Federation from 2000. Since 2002, Platini has been a member of the executive committee of world football's governing body.

What he says: "I am counting on your support and our common love of football so that, together, we can give the tens of millions of football fans the FIFA that they want: a FIFA that is exemplary, united and shows solidarity, a FIFA that is respected, liked and of the people."

Platini is serving a 90-day suspension from all football activity by FIFA, while corruption claims are investigated. FIFA's electoral committee says it may allow him to stand if his suspension ends before the election date.

Jerome Champagne

Age: 57

Nationality: French

Years in game: 17

Current position: Consultant in international football

Previous position: A former diplomat, he worked for FIFA for 11 years as an executive and an adviser to president Sepp Blatter, before leaving in 2010

What he says: "At a time when FIFA needs more than ever an open debate about its future, its reform and the reform of football, we are witnessing the first months of the electoral campaign being dominated by controversy and deals made behind closed doors." 

Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa

Age: 49

Nationality: Bahraini

Years in game: 17

Current position: Asian Football Confederation president and FIFAvice-president

Previous position: Former head of Bahrain FA

What he says: "I'm not looking to be an executive president. I think we have to bring the right people in, we have to bring the professionals to do the job.